Kennedy’s mouth becomes a straight line. Galen can tell he’s on the verge of throwing a Rayna-level fit. “Yes, you’ve made that very clear, haven’t you? But how do you think your Half-Breed frenemy here feels about me and my scary lock?”

At this, Reed stiffens. “What? I’ve told you everything! He’s the one not opening up!”

“I told you he’s had enough,” Galen protests calmly. “He can’t take anymore. He wouldn’t make a very good test subject if he were dead.” At least, that’s what Dr. Milligan always says when Galen gets himself into trouble.

Kennedy chuckles. “No, not dead, of course not. But I can work with ‘damaged.’ So what do you say, Galen?”

“I say go to hale.” Or was it hell that Rachel was always talking about? He can’t remember.

At any rate, Kennedy seems to grasp his meaning. He fists the lock in his hands and strides once again toward Reed. Galen allows him to strike him a first time, right in the jaw. It’s something Galen had intended to do anyway, possibly worse, ever since he learned Reed put his lips on Emma. One more blow is not going to make or break Reed, just hurt his feelings a tad.

When Kennedy raises his arm again, Galen intervenes.

“Stop. I’ll show you.” Galen says it with a sigh, and not only for Mr. Kennedy’s benefit.

Reed spits blood on the floor beside him and glowers at Galen from across the room.

Kennedy raises his fist further. “Are you sure? You seem wishy-washy, Galen.” He goes in for another blow, and Galen is tempted to let him do it. But he knows it’s not right anymore. Well, not that it was right to begin with but …

“I said I’ll show you. Are all humans hard of hearing?”

Why Kennedy continues to put up with his smart remarks is beyond Galen. He must, in a way, like to be bullied. Or maybe after all these years as a laughingstock he could just be used to it. “I’m beginning to wonder what Emma sees in you, Galen. You’re not very charming at all.”

Galen shakes his chains for emphasis. Kennedy says, “I have good news. I’m going to remove those chains very shortly, Galen. But first I want to show you something.” From the back of his shirt he retrieves a small handgun. Galen knows what they can do. Rachel had a few of those little things in crevices all over the house.

“This is a gun, you ignorant fish. Maybe my fists and my puny little lock won’t penetrate your skin, but I can assure you that at close range, these bullets will tear through your flesh in a most unpleasant way. Shall I give you a demonstration?” He turns to face the far end of the cabin and takes aim at nothing. The shot is loud and splinters the wood on the far wall. A long, straight rod of sunlight streams in through the hole it produced.

“Up close, I’m a fair shot, Galen. Don’t make me waste bullets on you. Not when we’ve just really started to develop a relationship.”

“You were an unhappy child, weren’t you,” Reed drolls. “Sounds like Daddy issues.”

Whatever that means. If Reed keeps distracting him, how will I lure him outside? Besides, Reed is supposed to be afraid for his life right now, or something close to it. His sudden burst of confidence is ill-planned, to say the least.

“Surely you of all people don’t want to talk about Daddy issues, Reed.” Kennedy laughs. “Not the shadow of the almighty Reder.”

Reed grimaces. He knows he’s said too much, and yet he’s been provoked badly enough to keep talking. Galen can see war on his face. Talk back, no don’t, yes let’s. Reed’s pride has taken a harder hit than his face ever did.

“Why don’t you just let him go?” Galen says, bringing the attention back to him. “He’s just a Half-Breed. I’m full-blooded.”

Kennedy rolls his eyes. “Oh, yes, let Reed go so he can run away to his pa and tell him everything so the entire town of Neptune can go on a witch hunt looking for us. No, thank you.” Kennedy does something to make the gun in his hand click, then pops two more bullets into it from his jeans’ pocket. “Fully loaded. Now, Galen, what is this gift of yours?”

Galen says, “It’s a surprise,” at the same time Reed says, “He can talk to fish!”

If it wouldn’t make a fantastic noise with the chains and all, Galen would run a frustrated hand through his hair. Galen decides Reed is officially an idiot.

Kennedy laughs. “This smells like a trap, boys. I mean, don’t tell anyone, but even I can talk to fish.”

Reed rolls his eyes. “Except when Galen does it, the fish listen and obey him.”

This ignites a fire in Kennedy’s eyes. “You’re bluffing.”

“Really? I’m going to have to take another beating because you won’t just go get proof for yourself?”

And Galen decides that Reed is actually a genius. The plan was to tell Kennedy about his gift of speed, but that would put the lunatic biologist on high alert as soon as they got to the water. Telling him Galen has the Gift of Poseidon is much better. Kennedy will be so intent on watching the fish’s reaction to Galen’s voice, Galen will be able to catch him off guard long enough to get into the water and swim away as fast as his Gift of Triton will take him.

Reed adjusted according to Kennedy’s intelligence.

Brilliant.

“Is this true, Galen?”

Galen turns away, doing his best to act betrayed. Kennedy takes it as a yes.